The forthcoming solo album from PRIMAL FEAR singer Ralf Scheepers is in the very final stages of production. Some very special guests agreed to appear - the list includes guitarists "Metal" Mike Chlasciak (HALFORD), Kai Hansen (GAMMA RAY), Sander Gommans (AFTER FOREVER) and Magnus Karlsson (PRIMAL FEAR, ALLEN/LANDE). Powerhouse American vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) is dueting with Scheepers in the track "Remission Of Sin", Swedish multi-instrumentalist Snowy Shaw (THERION, DREAM EVIL, KING DIAMOND, DIMMU BORGIR) appears on drums and PRIMAL FEAR's Mat Sinner is playing bass on the entire LP and produced the album. Achim Koehler is currently in the final stages of the mixing session and will shortly be mastering the production.
Scheepers revealed that his upcoming solo album will include a remake of his song "Saints Of Rock" Scheepers originally recorded with his band TYRAN PACE and a cover version of the JUDAS PRIEST classic "Before The Dawn'. "'Saints Of Rock' is gonna be, of course, a little bit more modern and updated than it was [when the original version was recorded] in 1986," he explained. "I mean, right now we have much more possibilities to make songs sound a little bit more modern, starting with the drum sound and the bass sounds." He added, "I think 'Before The Dawn' pretty much is a straight cover, but the first song I'm playing (nearly) all instruments — just a little more orchestral things going on. Vocal-wise, I just added a harmony vocals, plus the two outstanding guitar solos by maestro VICTOR SMOLSKI (RAGE). The album is like a trip through my entire career from hard driven crushing metal, groovy heavy beats, orchestral epic to stripped down basic songs and of course some nice surprises!"
The musical direction of his forthcoming solo CD is more diverse than PRIMAL FEAR, from the hardest to the softest tones. The album was recently presented to the German press and some of the reactions included
"A varied, magic masterpiece! Intensive, passionate and faithful - a terrific singer!" - Markus Wosgien (Rock It!, EMP, Blast!)
"A surprisingly varied and still compact metal-masterpiece, that leaves nothing to be desired!" - Andreas Schöwe (Metal Hammer)
"The vocals and the songwriting are just terrific and you've never experienced Ralf Scheepers so relaxed. The album is a hit! Does the world needs a solo album of the Primal Fear singer? Yes, of course!" - Birgit Braeckle (Breakout)
Frontiers plans to release the album in February 2011.